The Savandurga Fort is situated on the twin hills of Karigudda and Biligudda, meaning black hill and white hill respectively, separated by a chasm. The Savandurga hills are situated around 35 kilometres from Bangalore towards the west. The hills are one of the biggest monoliths in India and are part of the Deccan plateau. Around 2000 years ago, the Savandurga hills were home to some human communes. Megalithic burial urns containing skeletons, copper coins, and terracotta pots were recovered from the site in the recent past. The earliest mention of the hills is from AD 1340, in the records pertaining to Hoysala Ballala III, where the hills are called Savandi. According to the Imperial Gazetteer of India, this fort was first built in 1543 by Samantha Raya, an officer under the Vijayanagar Empire. Around 1570, the chief of Bangalore acquired the fort and the Magadi region.